PURPLE PASSION

GD wants a purple hat-'not too purple' she says as she rolls up the front window of her car and starts the engine to back out of the driveway.

How purple is not too purple? Purple is NOT my favorite color so this is going to be a real chore but it will force that notation of 'working outside of the comfort box'. Let's dye the yarn purple--there are plenty of dyes in the bin--all it takes is a red and a blue to make purple--right? Oh, crunchberries, what red and what blue will give us the perfect purple to suit her pretty brown/reddish hair (oh, what color does she have it dyed now anyway?) There is a bright red and blue, a navy blue and brillant red, a fushia and teal, turquoise and red--who can tell is the correct PURPLE? Does this mean many batches of purple have to be mixed to obtain the right one? OH, joy of joys! purple on hand for the ages! Maybe, the yarn can be given away if it isn't the one that suits her taste. There are lots of 'purple' people out there who would just love to have another purple yarn in their stash. Today the hands and fingertips are blue and specks of red show on the dyeing apron--rinse, rinse that stuff right out of the yarn. Isn't that from a song? Hang to dry along with the dishcloth that just happen to be used to test the color--wait and see if this is the right shade of purple.
Is this Purple enough or not purple enough? Notice that the linen cloth took up the blue color from the dyebath.

What is Purple? from "Hailstones and Halibut Bones" by Mary O'Neill and illustrated by John Wallner--a favorite book of colors

Time is purple

Just before night

When most people

Turn on the light----

But if you don't it's

A beautful sight.

Asters are purple,

There's purple ink.

Purple's more popular

Than you think. . .

It's sort of a great

Grandmother to pink.

There are purple shadows

and purple veils,

Some ladies purple

Their fingernails.

There's purple jam

And purple jell

And a purple bruise

Next day will tell

Where you landed

When you fell.

The purple feeling

Is rather put-out

The purple look is a

Definite pout.

But the purple sound

Is the loveliest thing

It's a violet opening

In the spring.





Then there are the wonderful purple plants--lavender! ck out Blanco, TX 5th annual Lavender Festival, June 12-14. http://www.blancolavenderfest.com/


Closer to Houston is Chappell Hill Lavender Farm http://www.chappellhilllavender.com/

Up, Up And Away

"Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?
Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon?
We could float among the stars together, you and I

For we can fly we can fly

Up, up and away

My beautiful, my beautiful balloon"

This song by the Fifth Dimension ran through our heads this morning as we traversed on our early morning walk through the green belt. There was that 'swoooosh' sound of the hot air traveling into the balloon as it floated over our heads. Quick! Grab the phone and turn on the camera before it sails away! Butter fingers--have to take off the security toggle; now, aim and shoot! We watched as the balloon went on its merry way. Then there was another 'swooosh' overhead and a second balloon appeared through the trees as it continued on its journey! What a magical sight.

What is that delightful smell? Ahhhh, sweet smell of bakery goods! You know that smell that waves across your nostrils as you try to avoid the temptation. But, somehow, our foot steps led us directly to the doorway of our local bakery. We ordered jalapeno cheese sausage kolaches to go and out the door we headed home to a pot of coffee that would be iced.

How did that week vanish so quickly?

Here comes another wkend and we always ask ourselves 'where did the week go?' Can you account for all your time during the past five days? Did you make a dent in any chores or do all those needed errands? Did you accomplish anything of importance? Where in life would we be if we didn't make a list of all those things we want to do? It's like the top ten list of 100 things that must be done this week! Only, we didn't even scratch off one thing on that list because other things just cropped up during the week. For this, the blame goes to email. Yes, email! That instant message system that puts you on the spot to accomplish that list of demands from emails! Committee reports; set up yahoo group; answer inquires re happenings this summer; send out announcements re family matters and happenings; check necessary facts and figures. And then there is the occasional written correspondence that comes via snail mail--dreaded letter from IRS! Need to return another piece of information for them to review what you have already sent.

onward and upward to better news--dear friend has been given a clear bill of health after a scare of colon cancer--now, that's worth celebrating! Cousins did their greatest on Today show, telling their tale of recovery after 20 yrs of carrying scars from a terrible fire that took the life of their mother. They did themselves proud! Oh, yes! there are few things that were ticked off the list--June calendar wall hanging almost finished; pumpkin BOM quilt top has been pieced together and will be given to quilter next week (that's a big whoop as it was two years in the making).

There was some good fun along the week's pathway--early morning walks that brought sweat to the brow and livelyness to one's energy; day time meetings with grandchildren; fun evening at local wine bar, sitting on their patio as one tries to enjoy the booming soul music from the plaza--the first summer concert in this new location. Lots of people gathered, enjoying other outdoor food venues--this could become a common sight until the summer heat really sets in. And then there is the upcoming Dinner with friends that only meet once a year.

Ahhhhh, the weekend cometh! and we rejoice!